The day after Hillary Clinton won enough delegates to claim the Democratic presidential nomination, several local supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders say their backing of the self-proclaimed democratic socialist’s policies remains strong.
“I think it’s a great accomplishment, beginning where he did,” said Matt Barron, a political consultant at MLB Research Associates in Williamsburg.
Barron, of Chesterfield, said his support for Sanders began because the Vermont senator understands the issues rural communities face. Barron is interested in those concerns — the challenges for people in low-populated areas in gaining access to broadband, health care and social services.
“He was really the only alternative to Clinton,” Barron said. “I really want to see her talk about issues that face rural America.”
Barron said Sanders did very well in the primaries, especially considering the challenges he faced. He said the Democratic Party treated Sanders unfairly when it came to scheduling debates and allowing access to party information. Plus, Clinton already had a large following, he said.
After Clinton won the California primary on Tuesday, it seems to be game over for Sanders. According to the New York Times, Clinton has 2,203 pledged delegates compared to Sanders’ 1,828 — and 2,383 are needed to win the nomination.
On top of that, Clinton has far more support from superdelegates, party insiders who are not bound by the results of the popular vote in their state. She has 574, while Sanders has 48.
Though there is a possibility that Sanders could swing the support of superdelegates in his favor, Barron said it is unlikely.
“I don’t see hope for him getting the nomination,” he said.
Cady Spencer, a registered nurse from West Springfield, said she always has held left-of-center political views. But it wasn’t until the Massachusetts primary crept up that she discovered just how much her ideals fall in line with those of Sanders.
“I’ve always been from the standing point that I’m willing to pay more in taxes to make sure that people are provided for,” she said.
Spencer said she is particularly supportive of Sanders’ positions on universal health care and making higher education accessible to all people.
Along with other members of her union, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Spencer said she volunteered for two weeks leading up to Super Tuesday to make phone calls and knock on doors in order to shore up local support for Sanders.
The National Nurses Union, of which MNA is part, endorsed Sanders in August.
And after the AP on Monday named Clinton the presumptive nominee, Spencer expressed disappointment.
“I will never be knocking on doors for Hillary,” she said.
Spencer said she’s going to continue to support Sanders’ candidacy until he himself gives up his White House dreams. “I am still behind Bernie,” she said.
Spencer said she is particularly turned off by Clinton’s Wall Street backing and by a comment she made at an April debate when she demanded that Sanders apologize to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting due to his position against allowing such people to sue gun manufacturers.
Gerald Friedman, a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said a victory by Sanders is off the table. “He’s not going to win,” he added.
Friedman chalks Clinton’s success up to strong support from white women and African-Americans and Hispanics of any gender.
“The only reason Hillary Clinton won is that she had the support of some very progressive groups,” he said.
Friedman said allegations that the election was set up in favor of a Clinton victory are overstated “It wasn’t rigged — Hillary Clinton is just better in primaries,” he said.
He said the Sanders campaign weakened when it shifted in tone from being based in economic issues to become “very anti-Hillary.”
But Sanders has succeeded in pushing Clinton further left and getting her to support progressive policies, Friedman said.
Though he voted for Sanders in the primary election, Friedman said he supports both Democratic candidates — he has bumper stickers and mugs bearing both their messages. “I give $10 a month to Hillary,” he said. “I like Hillary Clinton.”
But for Spencer and Barron a Clinton vote might not be so palatable.
“I’m not saying she isn’t qualified — she is most qualified,” Spencer said. “I’m certainly not voting for Trump.”
She said she would consider not voting at all. Asked if she would support the Green Party candidacy of Dr. Jill Stein, Spencer said it may be an option.
“I’m undereducated about her (Stein),” Spencer said. “I don’t know her stance on the issues. I’m willing to look into her.”
Stein on Tuesday said she wanted Sanders supporters to know there’s a “plan B” — that they can vote for her to help “continue to fight that revolution.”
Stein, of Lexington, supports moving to 100 percent renewable energy, universal health care and tuition-free public higher education.
Barron said he does not trust Clinton when it comes to issues of trade and her private server email investigation. He said he’s concerned that she will cave in to pressure from big business and special interest groups.
“I’m not a huge fan of Secretary Clinton,” he said. “If the election were held today, I don’t think I could” vote for her.
But all of them do agree that there’s a bigger fight ahead in the general election.
“Right now, the most important issue is ensuring that Donald Trump is not president,” Friedman said.
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.